Vacuum steam heating apparatus



g- 9, 1932- c. JENNINGS 1,870,734

VACUUM STEAM HEATING APPARATU; i

Filed Jan. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l g5 VACUUM CONT/POL FLO/9 7' CONTROL Jhve n for ?l //V6 a Jaw/-65 Aug 9, c. JENNINGS 1,870,734

VACUUM STEAM HEATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4; 1932 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Inven/Zo r /1?V//V6 C. (TENN/N65 c/ZZ tornqya Patented Aug. 9, 1932 IRVING C. JENNINGS, OF SOUTH NORWA'LK, CONNECTICUT VACUUM STEAM HEATING APPARATUS Application filed January 4, 1932. Serial No. 584,743.

The principal object of this invention is to improve the vacuum steam heating apparatus shown, described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me November 17th, 1931, No. 1,832,398.

In said patent is shown a steam heating apparatus having supply and return lines, the

return line being connected to a closed sepa- R rating "tank, an air or gas pump and a centrifugal water pump arranged above the separating tank, and connections arranged so that the air pump will prime the centrifugal pump and so that when the water is removed from the tank, the air pump will act to withdraw the air or gas from the tank and create and maintain the vacuum in the heating system. A

This operation of the air pump to create or maintain the vacuum centrifugal pump has withdrawn the water from\the tank leads to loss of time in the operation of the pumping mechanism, as it is usually better if possible to have the centrifugal pump act to pump the water of condensation back to the boiler and .to have the air pump exhaust the system at the same time. The principal object of the present invention is to modify or extend the system shown in said patent so that thisimproved operation can be obtained.

Certain of the improvements herein described also can be used to advantage in systems in which the pumping apparatus is not arranged above the separating tank.

he improvements are illustrated in the accompan 'ng two sheets of drawings referrilig to w ic I ig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a vacuum steam heating apparatus, having my invention applied thereto,"the piping and the heating apparatus being shown on a smaller scale than the pumping apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the air pump illustrating the arrangement of the induction and eduction pipes thereto,

Fig. 3 is an elevation illustrating a modification hereinafter described,and i Fig. 4.- is an enlarged cross section of the valvZ stem of Fig. 1- taken along the line in the system after the d Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail, S designates the closed separating or receiving tank, N the air or gas pump, and C the centrifugal water pump, the pumps being driven by an electric motor M,which is controlled by a water level switch and a vacuum control switch arranged as described in eissue Patent No. 15,637, granted June 26th, 1923 to me.

B designates the steam boiler from which steam is led through a supply line to the radiators R and R of the heating system, the returns from the radiators being led through suitable piping and a return line to the separating tank S. These usual construction and arrangement. It will be noted that the return line is connected to the top of the separating tank S so that the elivery into the same w1ll be at a high level.

Itwill be noted that the pum ing apparatus is located above the level 0 the separating tank and preferably on the top thereof, al-

though the pumping apparatus may be 10- the tank procated at a different point from vided the tank is set at the level. This allows the water of condensation to flow to the tank from radiators set on the same floor of the building as that on which the pumping apparatus is arran ed or from a lower level.

necessary low s1on, if desire The water of condensation is drawn from the separating tank through a pipe 10, which extends downwardly into the tank to a short distance above the bottom thereof.

The therein into a tank or pot 11 and then to the impeller 12 of the centrifugal water pump C As a centrifugal water pump cannot act effectually as a lift or suction pump, unless pipe there- The tank 11 extends above the pumping 100 parts may be of any 65 The separating tan may 80 be conveniently set in a small pit or depres-.

pipe 10 directs the water drawn up i the following priming preferably is mechanism and is provided with a passageway 13 in the side thereof.

The induction pipe of the air pump is connected through a passageway 14 in the pump casing to the passageway 13 and thus to the tank 11 at a high point to prevent water passing over into the air pump, whereby the pump N can exhaust the pipe 10. The eduction or discharge pipe 15 of the air pump is led to any convenient vent.

The eduction pipe 15 may connect to a sep- Y arator 16 in which the water passing out in the air exhaust will be separated and returned to the tank S by means of ball float valve 17 and pipe 18, the air escaping to the atmosphere through pipe 19 and check valve The waterv necessary to keep the pump N properly primed may be taken from the separator 16 through the pipe 21.

The pot or tank 11 is provided with a cover 22 cut out so that the same has a continuation of the passage 13 therethrough. A valve seat 23 is arranged in the cover, (:0- operating with which is a valve 24 controlled by a float 25. A casing 26 is arranged on top of the cover 22 and is connected by piping 27-27 to the separating tank S. A vacuum relief valve V is arranged'in this piping.

The operation is as follows:

As the returns come into the receiving or separating tank S, the motor N is started m operation either through the float control or vacuum control. The water in the tank S will be lifted up in the pipe 10 by the vacuum created by the air pump N actmg through passageway 13 and pot 11. Thus water will pass to the impeller 12 of the cen trifugal pump C, which will pum the water of condensation out through its e uction pipe 28 back to boiler B. Thus the centrifugal water pump will be put quickly in operation so that the same will lift the water from the low separating tank S and pump the same back to the boiler. I

As the air pump N operates, the suction created thereby will not only start the centrifugal water pump into operation but will lift the water up intothe pot or tank 11, which will raise the float 25 and open the valve 2 1. Then the air pump N will exhaust the air or gas in the top of the separating tank S through pipes 27 27 and will deliver the air or gas out through eduction pipe 15. Thus after, the air pump has primed the water pump, it will act to remove the air and gas from the top of the tank and from the system simultaneously as the water pump continues to draw the water from the tank.

It will also be noted that the air pump N will continue to exhaust from the tank S v and system, if necessary, to maintain the vacuum after the water pump C has drawn all of the water from the bottom of thetank S, as in thatevent the centrifugal pump C will become air bound and the air pump only will act, the air then passing to, the air pump through pipe 10, pot 11, and passageway 13.

The vacuum relief valve V Wlll prevent the pumping mechanism from creating an abnormal vacuum if it is necessary to keep the pumps in operation a considerable time to withdraw the water from the tank S.

Thus the operation has been rendered much faster and more eflicient.

The improvement is not necessarily limited to arrangements in which the pumping mechanism is arranged above the separating tank. The improvement can be used in sys' tems in which the pumping mechanism is arranged below or at the same level asthe separating tank.

Such an arrangement wherein the separating tank and the pumping mechanism are arranged at the same level is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Outside of this relative arrangement, the construction is substantially the same as We viously described, with the exception that the pipe 10 through which the water of condensation is drawn from the separating tank S by the pump C is connected to the bottom of the tank, and a valve 30, closed and opened by the float 25, is provided to revent the air pump from being flooded with water when the water level in tank S is above the to of the pot 11.

y using the air pump to prime the centrifugal pump in an arrangement in which the'pumping mechanism is below or at the same level as the separating tank, the centrifugal pump is smoothly started in operation without any banging or hammering.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new d desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus having supply and return lines, the combination of a closed separating tank to which the return line isconnected at a hi h level, an air or gas pump and a centri ugal water pump, a connection from the lower part of the tank to the centrifugal water pump and a connection from the top of the tank to the air pump arranged so that, the air pump will prime the water pump and willremove the air and gas from the top of the tank and from the system simultaneously as the water pump withdraws the water from the tank.

2. In a vacuum steamheating apparatus having supply and return lines, the combination of a closed separating tank to which the return line is connected at a high level, an air or gas pump and a centrifugal water pump, a connection from the lower part of the tank to the centrifugal water pump and a connection from the top of the tank to the air pump arranged so that the air pump will prime the water pump and then will remove the air and gas from the top of the tank and from the system simultaneously as the water pump continues to withdraw the water from the ank.

3. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus having supply and return lines, the combination of a closed separating tank to which the return line is connected at a high level, an air or gas pump and a centrifugal water pump, a connection from the lower part of the tank to the centrifugal Water pump and a connection from the top of the tank to the air pump arranged so that the air pump will prime the water pump and then will remove the air and gas from the top of the tank and from the system simultaneousl as the water pump continues to withdraw t e water from the tank, and a float controlled valve in this last connection.

4.. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus 1 having supply and return lines, the combination of a closed separating tank to which the return line is connected at a high level, an

tion of a closed separating tank to which the return line is connected at a high level, an air or gas pump and a centrifugal pump, a connection from the lower part of the tank to the centrifugal pump, a pot in this connection, a connection or passage from the air pump to the top of the pot, a connection from the top of the pot to the top of the tank, a float arranged in the pot and a valve operated by said float and controlling communication between said pot and the connection extending to the top ofthe tank, the parts being arranged so that the air pump will first prime the centrifugal pump, thenthe valve will open and the air pump will act to withdraw the air or gas from the top of the tank s multaneously as the water pump withdraws the Water from the tank, and so that.

as said valve closes after the Water has been drawn from the tank, the centrifugal pump will become air bound and the air pump will continue to exhaust the air and gas from the tank through said pot and the connection to the lower part of the tank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

IRVING C. JENNINGS.

air or gas pump and a centrifugal water pump, a connection from the lower part of the tank to the centrifugal water pump and a connection from the top of the tank to the air pump arranged so that the air pump will prime the water pump and then will remove the air and gas from the top of the tank and '1. from the system simultaneously as the Water pump continues to withdraw the water from the tank and a vacuum relief valve in this last connection.

5. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus having supply and return lines, the combination of a closed separating tank to which the return line is connected at a high level, an air or gas pump and a centrifugal pump, a connectionfrom the lower part of the tank to the centrifugal pump, a pot in this connection, a connection or passage from the air pump to the top of the pot, a connection from the top of the pot to the topof the tank, a float arranged in the pot and a valve operated by said float and controlling communication between said pot and the connection extending to the top of the tank, the parts being arranged so that the air pump will first prime the centrifugal pump, then the valve will open and the air pump will act to withdraw the air or gas from the top of the tank simultaneously as the water pump withdraws the water from the tank, and so that as said valve closes after the Water has been drawn from the tank, the air pump will continue to exhaust the air and gas from the tank through said pot and the connection to the lower part of the tank.

6. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus having supply and return lines, the combina- 

